i8 Ftcrniture Beetles. 



The eggs are described as being cylindrical in form with 

 rounded ends, white in colour and somewhat shiny, each about 

 0.8mm., or one-thirtieth of an inch, in length, and not more than 

 one-third of the length in diameter. 



The larvae hatch out in two or three weeks, and when they 

 have reached a fair size, look at first sight very like those of 

 Anohium, but examined under a strong lens, are seen to differ as 

 follows : — The forepart of the body is relatively thicker, and the 

 head more deeply sunk into it and less turned down in front. 

 On the head two short 4:-jointed antennae can be made out, 

 whereas in Anohium larvae, the antennae are only 2-jointed, 

 and so minute as to be scarcely visible, even under the micro- 

 scope. The body is without spinules, and of the nine spiracular 

 apertures along each side, the hindmost pair aro nearly four times 

 as wide as the others, and can much more easily be seen. In the 

 legs, only three joints are clearly distinguishable ; and the front 

 legs are stouter than either the middle or hind pair. 



The burrows made by the larvae follow the direction of the 

 fibres in the wood, and are usually more or less parallel, not 

 branching off in various directions as is frequently the case with 

 the burrows of' the Anohium larvae. Towards the end of March, 

 or somewhat later, in the year following that in which the eggs 

 were laid, the larvae are nearly full grown, and then direct their 

 burrows towards the surface, stopping short as a rule before 

 reaching it ; but they sometimes make an opening to the outside 

 and throw out some of the powder. They go back a little way 

 into the burrow to undergo pupation. The pupal stage lasts about 

 a month or a little less ; and so the whole life-cycle is generally 

 completed within the space of one year. 



The exit holes made by the beetles are similar to those of the 

 •common furniture beetle ; but the powder is much finer which 

 fills the holes and the burrows. 



The wood of pine and other coniferous trees is not known 

 to be attacked by these beetles, but most of the hard woods, 

 especially those with large pores, like oak, ash and hickory, suffer 

 damage from them. Sapwood is the part that most attracts them, 

 and unless treated beforehand with a preservative, this part should 

 not be used in making furniture, nor should it be retained in any 

 wood used for building purposes where strength and lasting 

 quaUties have to be depended upon. It is stated that in America, 

 destruction of wood effected by Lyctid beetles once brought about 

 a serious disaster to a railway train. 



